Top Tips for Keeping Hygienically Clean During The Weaning Process

Weaning your little ones onto solids can be a fun, challenging and messy life stage from baby to toddler.
With areas where children eat found to have worse levels of bacteria than toilet handles [i] and weaning a messy process, it is no surprise that the average Mum spends 94 hours a week juggling tasks around the home[ii] including cleaning and tidying up.
In the first few years when babies’ immune systems are still developing, it is important to ensure any surfaces they touch and objects they put in their mouth are hygienically clean to help prevent them from falling ill. So before their new life stage begins, take a look at these top tips for weaning your baby and keeping the home hygienically clean.
· Do what feels right
Do what feels right for you and your baby. Guidelines suggest that you should wait until your baby is six months old before starting weaning, but if you are unsure or feel your baby is ready before this time then it is recommended you speak to your health visitor for advice.

· Expect and prepare for some mess!

There is no avoiding that weaning is a messy process. Often your baby can end up covered in mess from top to toe. To ensure you are prepared, have plenty of bibs, place plastic mats under highchairs and keep wipes handy such as Dettol Power & Pure Advance Kitchen, which clean leaving no harsh chemical residue and kill 99.9% of bacteria. Hygiene expert Dr Lisa Ackerley advises “It is important to use anti-bacterial products that are suitable for use around baby areas to clean hygiene hotspots, like your baby’s changing mat and highchair tray.”

· Relax and make food fun

Enjoy the time with your child and make food fun! Your baby is getting to know different textures and tastes and inevitably will make mess as they explore. Create a relaxed atmosphere and make mealtimes a fun occasion. Sitting your child in a highchair with the whole family at mealtimes can be a great introduction to food and mealtimes, and allow them to feel in control whilst experimenting with different foods.
Notes

Dettol Power & Pure Advance products are available for use around the home: Kitchen, Bathroom, Hob & Sink, Shower & Sink.

Trigger Spray RRP £3.49 for 750ml.
Wipes RRP £2.03 for 32.
Available nationwide at all major supermarket stores.
Good home hygiene routines, such as hand washing and surface disinfection, have been scientifically proven to reduce infection and decrease levels of illness through reducing the spread of germs and bacteria around the home.
Hygiene Facts
A micro-organism is too small to be seen by the human eye but exists virtually everywhere including: soil, air, water, food, animals, plants and people. Most are harmless, some are helpful and some have the potential to cause illnesses such as
food poisoning, colds and flu and diarrhoea. These micro-organisms are often referred to as ‘harmful germs’ and include:
· Bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli which can cause food poisoning
· Viruses such as Rhinovirus, Influenza or Herpes

· Simplex – linked to colds, flu and cold sores.

· Norovirus and Rotavirus can cause diarrhoea and sickness

· Fungi (such as mould & mildew)

A few simple hygiene habits can help prevent the spread of harmful bacteria, while offering added protection for all the family.

Bacteria, Viruses, Allergens and Health
Allergens can cause allergic reactions around the home when they:

· Are either airborne and enter the nasal passage; or
· Land on surfaces around the home and come into contact with a person with an allergy